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In 1950,
the historian AJP Taylor spoke for many when he wrote: "In the first
half of the century Western man has achieved every ambition which he set before
himself since the Renaissance. He has conquered space, disease, poverty. The
scientific method which he has perfected guarantees that he can do anything
that he wishes."

Fifty
years later, the United Nations Global Environment Outlook 2000 contained
a stark warning about looming water shortages, global warming, and worldwide
nitrogen pollution. Klaus Topfer, executive director of the UN environment
program, said "A series of looming crises and ultimate catastrophe can
only be averted by a massive increase in political will. We have the technology,
but we are not applying it."

The promise
of fifty years has vanished. We have applied the methods of science and created
an economic miracle – but for only a minority of the world’s population, and
at a great cost to our planet’s ecosystems, much of which is still to be revealed.
For the first time in centuries, most of today’s younger generation believes
that the future will be worse then the present.

In March
2000, after input from 200 NGOs and thousands of people all over the world,
The Earth Charter was released: "We stand at a critical moment in Earth's
history, a time when humanity must choose its future. It is imperative that
we, the peoples of Earth, declare our responsibility to one another, to the
greater community of life, and to future generations. Let ours be a time remembered
for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve to achieve
sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace, and
the joyful celebration of life. The protection of Earth’s vitality, diversity
and beauty is a sacred trust." (www.earthcharter.org)

The vision
that drove the past 500 years is over. We must create a new vision, or surrender
our spirits to pessimism. "The future belongs to those who believe
in the beauty of their dreams." Eleanor Roosevelt

What
are our dreams? From Scotland, Alan Watson Featherstone is promoting the vision
that the United Nations should declare the 21st century a Century
of Ecological Restoration. He is proposing that each nation be requested to
redirect 10% of its annual military budget (in cash or kind) to ecological
restoration work, and that an Earth Restoration Service be created, enrolling
volunteers from all over the world to restore the mangroves to Vietnam's Mekong
Delta, the cedar forests to Lebanon, the Caledonian pine forest to Scotland;
to clean polluted beaches; to remove unnecessary roads from wild places; to
take down the dams that block wild rivers; to clean toxic waste sites; to
restore the forest to the African Sahel; to heal the holes in the ozone layer;
to heal our planet’s atmosphere; to fill the world’s cities with trees and
gardens; to restore the Black Sea to its former health; to return the tiger
to India, the wild buffalo to the American mid-west, the beaver to Scotland,
the wolf to Japan, the Arabian oryx to the wild Oman. (www.restore-earth.org)

Our world
is one village. We breathe the same air; we drink from the same well. We have
to cope with each other’s wastes. We need an effective Village Council where
we can address the issues that concern us, and act on them. The United Nations
should be our village council, but it has been pushed to the margins by the
larger powers, and excluded from decisions on trading and finance, which have
been taken over by the global corporations, their bankers, and the World Trade
Organization. When confronted with the evidence of climate change, they offer
a few platitudes, then continue to buy and sell fossil fuels.

There
is nothing wrong with global trade – but it must be fair trade, not free trade
untrammeled by social responsibility. The miracles of science must be used
with caution; the lands of which we are ignorant are vastly greater than the
lands of which we know. The old millennium is over – on this we can agree
– a new one has begun. Let us begin it with vision, caution, reverence and
delight.

"There
can be no purpose more enspiriting than to begin the age of restoration, reweaving
the wondrous diversity of life that still surrounds us." (See Action
of the Month)

* Want
to help establish the world's first International Marine Protected Area
in the Southern Gulf Islands/San Juans? Sign and help circulate the Orca
Pass Stewardship Petitions. Contact Peter Ronald, 361-3621 or peterr@island.net

* Reminder!
The Georgia Strait Alliance's ToxicSmart Home Visits are available in Greater
Victoria only through March. To book your free visit, call the ToxicSmart
Hotline 381-8321

Doug
Koch writes:It has been my privilege to serve as Vancouver Island’s
Earth Day/Week coordinator for the past 11 years, but now it is time for
others to take the lead, as I move on to new endeavours. Every April, thousands
of Islanders participate to create the largest set of community activities
in the country. New blood is needed to coordinate the program, and our flagship
event, the 20th annual Earth Walk. If anyone would like to help
create a team to organize the Week or Walk, or for more information, please
call me at 383-5765. Thanks to the many sponsors, volunteers and participants
for ensuring the success of past programs. With your continuing support
and commitment, we will fashion a better future together.

"I
WISH WE HAD BETTER INTERNET ACCESS"

Do
you work with a non-profit group that needs Internet access, or whose staff
want to email confused@geek.com without having a panic attack? VolNet is
a federal initiative with a mandate to offer Internet connections, computer
equipment, skills and development to 10,000 voluntary organizations by March
2001. Yes, you heard that right! So move quickly – the initiative is being
managed locally by the BC Museums Association, at 387-3971 on an old-fashioned
telephone. But don’t delay – they may all soon be gone!

SACRED
GIFTS

What
a birthday gift to the new millennium! 15 years ago, leaders of the world's
major faiths met with conservationists in Assisi, Italy, to explore their
teachings on the environment. As a result, with help from the World Wide
Fund for Nature, faith communities around the world have created a partnership
called ‘Sacred Gifts for a Living Planet’, not of money, but actions that
will make a difference:

* The
Methodist Church is launching a worldwide drive to develop an ethical investment
framework for US$30 billion of church assets, and supporting environmental
and social justice through shareholder action, engagement with corporate
heads, and consumer choice.

* In
Mongolia, Buddhists are reinstating a hunting ban that will help protect
the endangered snow leopard.

* Leaders
of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations, representing 80% of US Jews, are launching a conservation
program which emphasizes action to counter climate change, and consumer
preference for FSC sustainably-managed forests.

* In
China, the Taoist Association (an umbrella organization for all 40 million
Taoists), is calling on its members to stop using endangered wildlife in
traditional medicine products.

Michael
Williams died shortly before Christmas, while flying to England. During
his years in Victoria, he did so much for the community, whether taking
a tatty old industrial building and turning it into Swans, helping the Upper
Door and the street people, supporting local artists by buying and displaying
their work, or organizing the busload of business-people who supported the
peace camp at Clayoquot Sound in 1995. Only Michael knows the full list
of kindnesses he gave us, while he was here. If you want to say goodbye,
I expect you’ll find him at Swan’s, taking good care of his friends and
customers.

LIVING
BY WATER (1)

"Tell
me, and I will listen. Show me, and I will remember. Involve me, and I will
understand. Respond to my needs, and I will act. Remind me and support me,
and I will keep on doing." (Shelly Sawada). These might be guiding
words for any organization doing community or stewardship work, but in reality
they come from ‘Living by Water’, a national non-profit which started with
a dream by two people in Salmon Arm (Clive Callaway and Sarah Kipp) who
wanted to help people be more sensitive to the wildlife and the natural
habitat of the water they live by, and reduce the damage that occurs. Once
there were loons at Prospect Lake; now there are front lawns and homes for
boats. Living by Water has put together a handbook for waterfront living,
and very thoughtful and colourful kit, including brochures, an event-planning
mini-kit and a manual to guide participants through shoreline restoration
activities and arts and kids events. They have also developed a Homesite
Assessment Program and a Junior Shoreline Ambassador program. On Shushwap
Lake, the Adams Lake Indian Band has done an outreach effort to shoreline
property owners. The topics that arise include septic systems, wells, erosion
control and flooding, habitat restoration, wildlife, fishing, boating, building
design, and environmentally friendly household products. It is so easy to
flush something down the sink, and

not
understand how it may harm the creatures that live on the foreshore. Living
by Water is supported by the Federation of BC Naturalists, Environment Canada,
the Mountain Equipment Coop, and 38 other organizations. www.livingbywater.bc.ca
(250) 832-7405 in Salmon Arm.

ORNAMENTUM
FURNITURE

ENVIRONMENTAL
DESIGNS

1780
Vernon Drive

Vancouver,
V6A 3T8

(604)
215-7444

FSC
accredited certification

means
that the forest is managed

according
to strict environmental,

social
and economic standards. Chain of custody certified by Silva Forest Products.

About
three years ago, an American woman visited Salt Spring and wrote a glowing
article about the Gulf Islands in the New York Times. Soon after, our cousins
from south of the border started arriving check-books in hand, eager to
buy waterfront property. I mean, we’ve all got common ancestors, but no-one
is taking the time to tell them that "Private Property – No Trespassing"
signs are not what make the Gulf Islands so magical, or that in Canadian
law, private property only reaches as far as the high tide line, and does
not include the entire beach. No, sirree, there’s not a two-mile fishing
zone with that there cottage. One of these dear cousins was spotted recently
doing some serious waterfront modifications on his Lasqueti Island property,
pulling rocks off the sea-shore to become a part of his fortress, to the
despair of the locals. What can you do? Hey, man, this is my private property!
On this one occasion, however, one of the locals felt that enough was enough.
Time for action! Being a well-bred Canadian, he called the Coast Guard,
who freshed up their ammunition, leapt into their Zodiac, and roared across
the water. 20 minutes later, much to Cousin America’s surprise, they were
giving him the most severe talking to, and telling him that if they found
as much as one tiny Canadian barnacle on any of his rocks, they would personally
make him demolish the entire structure while they watched. True story –
hey, we’re Canadians! Maybe some Gulf Island realtors might start a little
stewardship initiative of their own, and take the time to explain to the
new owners that no, they are not entitled to help themselves to the shoreline,
and by the way, would they care to see this little brochure on ‘Living by
Water’? If we start protecting our world right here where we live, maybe
we’ll learn to love the rest of it properly, too. (Thanks to Brett Black)

Bea
and Ian McKenzie, of the Coalition of Langford Residents, will be selling
raffle tickets during January for the beer fridge at Ma Miller`s pub (2903
Sooke Lake Rd) to support The Land Conservancy`s purchase of the Sea-Sea
Greenbelt. The fridge comes complete with beer from Pacific Brewery, smoked-salmon,
a 3-month T-C subscription, and brunch at Ma Miller`s. The draw happens
on Superbowl Sunday at the pub in Langford. Tickets $2, 5 for $5, at the
WCWC office and Ma Miller`s.

GREEN
MPs IN OTTAWA

If
you’re looking for support for a federal environmental initiative, try one
of these MPs, who have a good green record:

Liberals:
Charles Caccia (Davenport)

Aileen
Carroll (Barrie-Simcoe-Bradford)

Sheila
Copps (Hamilton East)

Joe
Jordan (Leeds-Grenville)

Gar
Knutson (Elgin-Middlesex-London)

Clifford
Lincoln (Lac St. Louis)

Steven
Owen (Vancouver-Quadra)

Karen
Kraft Sloane (York North)

NDP:
Rick LaLiberté, Churchill River

Peter
Stouffer, Sackville Mosquodoboit

Svend
Robinson, Burnaby-Douglas

BQ:
Jocelyn Girard-Bujold, Jonquiere

PC:
John Herron, Fundy-Royal

Thanks
to Laura Telford, Canadian Nature Federation.

SEWAGE
SOLUTIONS

Heather
Goulet writes: For the past year our citizens group in North Saanich
has been gathering information about alternative wastewater treatment for
Deep Cove and Pat Bay. Four years ago the CRD directed North Saanich to
solve the problems of failing septic fields, or face fines. The Municipality
has been planning to run a pipe to the new secondary treatment plant at
Bazan Bay, but our investigation is driven by a love of the rural nature
of this community, and the conviction there are better ways of solving wastewater
problems. On January 20th we are holding an Open House with international
presentations at Deep Cove to demonstrate what we have learnt (see Diary).
While the rest of the country and the US has known for years of these viable
and cost effective solutions, British Columbia is just waking up to them.
Our purpose is to advance that wake-up call by providing a full spectrum
of alternate solutions from collection, conveyance, treatment and discharge.
This issue is of vital concern to many rural communities who must find a
better way to clean the water they use. Contact Heather Goulet (250) 656-1115.
www.hermessenger.com

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